Steps

more progress on the new pieces i'm working on

 for my February show at La Luz de Jesus Gallery:

 this is how i get fabric to "fall" correctly: since most fabric doesn't act the same way when it is cut small as when it is a bigger piece, there is lots of pinning, gluing and dousing with "StiffenQuik", which...stiffens the fabric, so it keeps the shape you convince it to take. i think i will add a piece of fabric at the back to create more drama and more of a floating illusion.

 next up for hair and background, above.

ever feel like you're being watched? i do. 

the end

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Vampira en Tape

So, I am working on a commission piece - a small sculpture of the lovely, spooky Vampira, aka Maila Nurmi, from the 1950s. I really like how she looks right now, as a curvy aluminum foil-and-tape mummy. Today she will get more features, but I thought I'd share the progress. 

I usually don't use so much tape to sculpt, but since she will be mostly covered in her signature long, fitted dress, she can have a lot of structure underneath, rather than just sculpey. This will make her sturdy (she's got 3 armature wires in her legs) and i can focus on the sculpting at the top. Also, tape and aluminum foil is fun to "sculpt"! As a side note, the base is a sawed-off piece from the end of a Christmas tree. They give them away since they cut so many, and they smell really amazing and make great, natural looking bases for sculptures!

More to come soon on this piece. 

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sketches, sculptures, teasers and a paartridge in a pear treeeee

so! here are some things i've made recently and 

some things ive been working on that aren't quite finished:

 the above and below photos are of my sculpture i'm working on in my class at Santa Monica College- which has been super helpful, the teacher, David Simon, knows everything about anatomy. 

the "before"s were all taken at the beginning of the 3rd session of this pose (i wish i had pictures from the beginning, but i didn't think of it at the time, garsh darnit) The "afters" are 5 hours later.. i still have two more 5-hour sessions to work on this sculpture. phew. she'll get some boobs by then, most likely.

 next up, a partridge puppet that i made for BoomKat Dance Theatre's holiday show, "Stations", which is showing in Santa Monica at the Miles Memorial Playhouse! The show runs Nov. 26th to Dec. 30th- go see it! these guys put on some amazing shows, with impressive dancing, singing and general magnificence. More info HERE

(fun fact: the partridge poops repeatedly on someone in the show.)

(which is why he's got that evil look in his eye.)

 












also, last night i randomly went to a sketch night at Gnoman School in Hollywood, where my good buddy Alyssa is taking classes- they had a number of steampunky babes lounging about for the drawing pleasure of a good crowd! and free soda. these two factors mean i'm going back again as soon as possible.
  the event was put on by them Gallery Girls, who bring the lovely all around LA.

ps: thanks to alyssa for letting me borrow her pencils.

 

and, finally, a little teaser of a new piece i'm working on for an upcoming show 

at WWA gallery in Culver City...

super long post! bam!

its official!

helllooo!
I have eleven new pieces for sale,
you can view them at the La Luz de Jesus Gallery preview page:

here!
or come by if you live in the Los Angeles area -
opening reception, 8-11 pm
Friday June 4th
4633 Hollywood Blvd
info@laluzdejesus.com
323.666.7667

yay!

progress report!

hey friends!

i have been madly finishing things for the upcoming show
at La Luz de Jesus Gallery on June 4th,
here are some progress pictures!

here is my floor during the making of the wiring for my (now almost finished) dreamcatcher chandelier !
Thanks Mike Buerli for helping wire things! And Fu for ideas! And the guys who sold me the right things this time!


this is a closeup, (its her Myspace picture, obviously) of my newest and final doll, a snake charmer. OooOo!

this is what her little hand looks like inside. it helps make the finger strong and easier to position.

and this is a tiny tiny doll, about 5" or 6" tall! She is sad because her house was burned.

That is all for now, but next week I will be updating my website with real photos of all the new work!!

marionettes

i made two new marionettes. they aren't quite finished.

their bodies sculpey, with movable joints. the gray one is pretty much done.
the peach one now has a lovely yellow velvet corset and purple lace ruff around her little neck.

marionette

this marionette is made with sculpey for her face, neck, hands and feet, with a foam and cloth body.
everything is hand-sewn and she has full movement. her eyes open and close, too!
approximately 32" tall.
she sits on a swing that hangs from a bit of driftwood, as seen here:

(no strings attached, currently.)